The Empire needed money to reimburse its ammunition costs, and Batonia needed money too.
So, from a certain point of view, it was fair to say that Marienburg's merchants were extremely important.
With their support, facing the "pincer attack" of two nations—with the Empire providing sufficient "low-level" fighting strength and Batonia supplying enough "high-level" fighting strength—even Chaos would stumble.
So although the Emperor of Fear didn't want to admit it, he still had to take action.
As it happened, he still hadn't openly "rebelled" against Tzeentch.
...This fellow still didn't know that his "rebellion" against Tzeentch was itself part of Tzeentch's plan...
He was completely convinced that everyone else was drunk while he alone was sober.
In any case, through Tzeentch, the Emperor of Fear "happened" to learn that Red Eye was preparing to head south. He didn't say what, exactly, it was for.
What he did make clear was that the two sides could cooperate.
Marienburg was nearly half a continent away from Araby.
He could only send part of his army there, and they would have to go around by sea.
So finding allies was naturally the best choice.
"Fine. I'll lead five thousand troops south." Red Eye, clad in blood-red armor, gripped the Hell Battle Axe. An aura like fresh blood radiated from him. "What about you?"
His opponent was, after all, Khorne's Chosen Champion. Even the famous Demon General of the Arabian people couldn't withstand his "terror" at first.
The old man swallowed unconsciously, and a thin sheen of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. His already cloudy eyes seemed to lose focus. "W-we can send a large number of War Beasts ashore first to serve as meat shields."
"How many is 'a large number'?" Red Eye stared straight at the old man with blood-red eyes.